Asmir Begovic completes Bournemouth switch

Bournemouth have completed the signing of goalkeeper Asmir Begovic from Chelsea for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £10m.

The deal will become official on July 1 and the 29-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina international has signed a long-term contract.

And Begovic will be returning to a familiar haunt, having been on loan at Bournemouth from Portsmouth back in August 2007, making eight appearances.

Begovic joined Premier League champions Chelsea in the summer of 2015 from Stoke on a four-year deal for a fee of £8m, but has only made 33 appearances for the club over the last two seasons, having mainly served as a back-up to
first-choice keeper Thibaut Courtois.

He will now compete for the Bournemouth job with current number one Artur Boruc, 37, who has a deal until the summer of 2018 after triggering an appearance clause in his contract.

Begovic told the Bournemouth website: "AFC Bournemouth is an exciting, ambitious club which has everything in place for a very bright future.

"Being part of a title-winning team at Chelsea was amazing but I felt now was the right time to move on, because I want to be playing regular football.

"I am coming into an important part of my career and I want to show people what I am capable of.

"When I spoke to [manager] Eddie Howe I knew AFC Bournemouth was the right club for me and I want to bring my experience to the squad, both on and off the pitch.

"I'm really excited to be part of the journey here and hope I can help take the club to another level."

Howe said: "Asmir is an outstanding goalkeeper who has proved himself capable of performing at the highest level over a number of years.

"He is at the right age and the right fit. He is a leader as well, and exactly the kind of character you want in the team.

"Asmir will provide great competition to the excellent group of goalkeepers we already have here and his experience will prove invaluable in the dressing room and on the pitch.

"I look forward to him being a very important player here for years to come."